Disability Network July 2010 Newsletter

Our Mission: To Promote and Encourage Independence

for All People with Disabilities.

1705 S. Saginaw Road

Midland, Mi 48640

989-835-4041 800-782-4160
www.dnmm.org

July 2010

Letter from the Executive Director

Vote on August 3rd... It's Not Just a Right; It's a Responsibility

For years I have lived by the motto: let us be the masters of change, not the victims of change. This motto applies to so many situations, especially your right to vote.

How often do you hear your family, friends or co-workers complain about government or taxes; and yet you know they didn't vote? I have strong feelings that if you didn't vote you have no right to complain. Voting gives us a chance to express our opinion in a manner that can truly make a difference.

Now is the time to start preparing yourself for the August 3rd election since there are several referendums and candidates to consider. Resources for information include the internet or your local paper. I've included a link to a non-partisan voters guide from the League of Women's Voters as another resource.
http://www.lwvmi.org/2010PrimaryVoterGuideIndex.htm

All polling sites are required to be accessible so if you are a person with a disability please know that there should be no barriers to your being able to vote independently on August 3rd.

See you at the polls.

Great Lakes Business Leadership Network Launches on 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

On the 20th Anniversary of the signing of the American's with Disability Act (ADA), the Great Lakes Business Leadership Network (GLBLN) was launched. This local network was formed so businesses can collaborate for diversity and business success. "The goal is that businesses in the Great Lakes Bay Region will work together to ensure diversity including people with disabilities," states Sara Kristal, Executive Director of Disability Network.

Business Leadership Networks are part of a national initiative started during the Bush Administration. People with disabilities represent 20% of our population and are part of the single largest minority group in our country. When people think of diversity, however, they don't always think of people with disabilities. The GLBLN will connect business to each other and to service organizations that can assist with ensuring inclusive and accessible environments for employees and customers.

Great Lakes BLN members have an opportunity to access four best-practice meetings per year and participate in Disability Mentoring Day. Topics for the best-practice meetings are identified by GLBLN members based on their views of the region's needs. Disability Mentoring Day is a great opportunity to expose youth with disabilities to our area employers. This is day during which youth learn about different jobs and about the educational requirements needed to perform those jobs. This day is a win-win for both mentors and mentees. As a result of the establishment of the GLBLN, the first regional Disability Mentoring Day will be held in October with students in the eight counties served by DNMM and the GLBLN.

STAGES Spells Summer Learning for Students

As a Community Affairs intern at DNMM this summer I was hired, in part, to write impact stories of people who have benefited from this organization. To me, there are no better impact stories than those of the kids we serve. Working with students? Not so new to me; working with kids with disabilities? Totally new.

Shortly after I started working at DNMM I met some of the students involved with the STAGES program. STAGES is a summer program to help high school students with disabilities develop job skills, learn to live independently, and to interact successfully with peers. As I got to know the students during the summer they opened up to me - telling me how, why, and when this program helps them become improved students, stronger individuals, and better prospects for the future workforce.

I met talkative 19 year old Chuck, with ideas in computer programming that seem likely to make millions in the future. I met enthusiastic 18 year old Ashley, who had drawing skills to rival those of any college art major. I met shy 16 year old Andrew, who thus far been the only student in the group to beat me at air hockey. These kids are content with who they are and don't feel any different from other kids. Many of them say their families don't treat them differently, meaning their families project a you-can do-it expectation and mindset. They don't see themselves as disabled, yet they sometimes appreciate how differently-abled they are. Each one, with a very able state of mind, is learning and growing and becoming an independent adult.

These students, and many more, are working on skills that will help them get and obtain jobs that appeal to them and help them live independently when they get out of school. STAGES provides opportunities for students to engage in skills-development activities in a home-like setting, during company visits, and at community events - all of which help these students prepare to take on the worlds of self-sufficiency, work, and leisure.

Americans with Disabilities Act Celebrates 20th Anniversary!

Monday, July 26th, marked the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Passed on July 26, 1990 during the administration of President George H. W. Bush, and effective on January 26, 1992, this landmark federal legislation mandated services and employment opportunities for more than 50 million Americans with disabilities across the nation.The ADA has provided people with disabilities opportunities to become active, independent participants in their communities.

During President Barach Obama's remarks on the commemoration of the ADA's 20th anniversary, he announced publication of two rules that will amend the Department of Justice's regulations regarding the ADA. These rules include the following topics:

Adoption of the Revised Design Standards - addresses a variety of recreational facilities including pools, playgrounds and exercise machines.

Element by Element Safe Harbor - prevents buildings that comply with the 1991 ADA Standards from having to comply with the 2010 Standards arbitrarily.

Ticketing - provides guidance on the sale of tickets for accessible seating including fraudulent purchase of tickets.

Service Animals - changes the definition of a "service animal" to a dog that has been individually trained for the benefit of a person with a disability.

Wheelchairs and Other Power-Driven Mobility Devices - allows for wheelchairs and scooters in all areas open to pedestrian use.

Timeshares - subjects timeshare and condominium properties that operate like hotels to title III guidance about the factors that must be present.

Reservations at Places of Lodging - addresses allowing individuals with disabilities to reserve accessible rooms at the same time and in the same manner as other guests.

In addition, four new ADA proposals that relate to the ADA were published in the Federal Register. They include the following:

Accessibility of websites

Captioning and video description in theaters

Accessible equipment and furniture

Equipping 9-1-1 centers for text and video calls

DNMM Picnic Scheduled for August 28

DNMM will honor the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with a picnic that provides an opportunity to share the importance of this event with family and friends. Mark your calendars for August 28th and come celebrate this remarkable achievement!

The picnic will be held at Rainbow's End Boundless Playground at Krossroads Park in Kochville Township in Saginaw. Krossroads Park is at the north end of Fashion Square Boulevard, across Fashion Square Boulevard from the Sam's Club and Wal-Mart complex that faces Bay Road. The park will be open before and after the picnic, so plan to come early or stay late if you'd like.